Social categorization is a subjective process in which an individual classifies others into groups based on perceived similarities. Social categories are often automatic, flexible and multifaceted, including dimensions of both natural cues (such as gender, age and race) and social cues (such as language, occupation and social status). In such multidimensional social categories (e.g., "rich old celibate bachelor"), some of the constituent categorical dimensions contribute disproportionately to the traits attributed to the category overall. This is termed the "dominant dimension effect," and is ...
